Gordon Square and Tavistock Square were envisaged as matching squares. As late as 1792 the area which would become Tavistock Square was still open fields! The land was owned by the Dukes of Bedford whose subsidiary title is Marquess of Tavistock, hence the name of the square.
James Burton started building the east side of Tavistock Square in 1803 and this included Old Tavistock House which was Burton’s home. A later resident was Charles Dickens, and Han Christian Anderson describes the house after a visit in 1857: ‘..On the first floor was a rich library, with a fireplace and a writing-table, looking out on the garden; and here it was that in winter Dickens and his friends acted plays to the satisfaction of all parties..’. The house was demolished in 1901 and the remainder of the east side came down in 1938.
Today the east side of the square is dominated by the British Medical Association House. The building was begun by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1913 for the Theosophical Society and and eventually completed by Lutyens, Cyril Smith and Douglas Wood for the BMA. (Brief history here, with photographs.)
The remainder of the east side is taken up with Lynton House offices.
Thomas Cubitt completed the square between 1820-26, and the west side is particularly admired.
The estate gatekeeper’s lodge is in Endsleigh Street, and I think this is the building. (I had read about the Bedford Estates being gated; this must have been on the northern extremity.)
In the gardens
On 7 July 2005 a bomb exploded in a bus passing through this quiet square, outside the BMA
You may be interested in
blogging
bookmarked!!, I really like your site!
top it certifications 2013 in india
Greetings from Los angeles! I’m bored to death at
work so I decided to check out your site on my iphone during lunch break.
I really like the knowledge you provide here and can’t wait to
take a look when I get home. I’m amazed at how quick your blog loaded on my phone ..
I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, very good site!
Candy Blackham
Sorry you are bored – have you considered a change? What did you enjoy on the site?
stravacati
Does your site have a contact page? I’m having trouble locating it but, I’d like to send you
an email. I’ve got some ideas for your blog
you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great site and I look
forward to seeing it expand over time.
Candy Blackham
You can contact me by commenting on a post – thank you for reading
Slips Calvin Klein China
Its such as you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, like
you wrote the e-book in it or something. I feel that you can do with some p.c.
to pressure the message home a little bit, but other than that, that is magnificent blog.
A great read. I’ll definitely be back.
Candy Blackham
Thank you for visiting
Palma
It’s going to be ending of mine day, however before ending
I am reading this wonderful piece of writing to improve my know-how.
Candy Blackham
Thank you – I am pleased you enjoyed the post! London is a wonderful city
Berniece
When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get several emails with the same comment.
Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Cheers!
Candy Blackham
I believe that you need to untick yourself! I have fallen into this trap before – you are asking to be told about the string of comments attached to a post. I think you may only want to ‘follow’ the blog.